Ghostbusters

Details


Title: Ghostbusters
Dir: Ivan Reitman
Yr: 1984
Source: Sony / Columbia Tristar
Format: PAL, Digital sound.
Type: CLV*2 sides
Chapters: Yes
Length: 101 Mins.
Cert: PG
Film credit: Panavision
Presented in: Letterboxed
Sound credit: Dolby Surround.

Comments

Would be better on a big screen (we can always say this) but doesn't look too cramped on a TV. One or two shots overshoot the left & right of the screen a bit (esp. the scene consisting of misc background action superimposed with magazine front pages featuring the ghostbusters and their activities). This isn't the first time Sony have sneaked a slight cropping into an LD title, Lawrence of Arabia is like this too, but IMHO it doesn't show on that movie.

Picture

Not as good as T2, but then again, few things are. Nothing obvious to gripe about - no chroma noise, plenty of luminance detail, just "subdued" a bit, that's all. Maybe the original movie was like that - I don't remember. Interlace twitter doesn't seem to be a problem, maybe the 'soft' luminance helps to avoid it.

Sound

Sound is quite clear, but not much use seems to be made of the surround channel except once or twice when it draws attention to itself as a result! Clear dialogue throughout.

Packaging

Standard gatefold sleeve, the other half contains Ghostbusters II, which they seem to have chucked in as a freebie :-). See separate review on GBII. Several rather average photos taken (I assume) from lobby cards adorn the inside of the gatefold.

Obtained From

Any good LD stockist in the UK. UK$34.99


Review by Steve Hosgood (S.Hosgood@swansea.ac.uk)
Automatic HTML conversion courtesy of D.White@ee.surrey.ac.uk
Review submitted: Wed, 07 Jul 93 09:04:08 BST